Transport Minister Anthony Loke confirmed that DAP will propose an RCI at Friday’s cabinet meeting.
DAP’s Kota Melaka MP Khoo Poay Tiong has cautioned that the government risks losing voter support unless it acts on allegations involving MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki. Speaking during the Auditor-General’s Report debate, Khoo demanded Azam’s resignation, declaring: “Azam must resign. He has to go. Either he goes, or we (government) go.”
Khoo urged the establishment of a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) to investigate two scandals: Azam’s alleged excessive share ownership and claims of collusion between a “corporate mafia” and MACC’s Section D unit, as reported by Bloomberg. He warned that failure to act could damage Malaysia’s improved Corruption Perceptions Index ranking.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke confirmed that DAP will propose an RCI at Friday’s cabinet meeting, following the formation of a special task force led by Attorney-General Dusuki Mokhtar to probe Azam’s shareholding. Loke’s call has drawn rare support from MCA president Wee Ka Siong.
Khoo noted that the task force is only examining compliance in Azam’s purchase of 17.7 million shares worth RM1.5 million. He stressed this is the second shareholding controversy since 2022 and urged firm government action. Azam has denied wrongdoing, insisting his transactions were properly declared, while MACC dismissed Bloomberg’s report as “malicious.” Azam is also suing Bloomberg for RM100 million in damages.
Support for an RCI has grown across party lines. PAS MP Awang Hashim backed Khoo’s proposal, while PKR’s Hassan Abdul Karim suggested former chief justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat lead the inquiry. Hassan criticised delays in investigating Azam compared with swift action against Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli, who faces an MACC probe over a RM1.1 billion deal with Arm Holdings. “Justice must truly be seen to be done. The MACC must not be turned into a tool,” he said.
The debate highlights mounting pressure on the government to restore public confidence in anti-corruption enforcement and strengthen institutional oversight.